Salford Quays

The Quays is Greater Manchester's unique waterfront
destination, situated just 15 minutes by tram from Manchester
city centre. It is Britain's hottest short-break destination
and packs everything you can do in a big city into one
spectacular square mile. Shopping, sport, art, drama, history
and truly world-class architecture - you name it and you'll
find it at The Quays.

BBC Media City

The BBC has been operational at
MediaCityUK since 2011. Around 3,200 staff work in twenty-six
departments, producing thousands of hours of content for
television, radio and online.

Lancaster Canal

The Lancaster Canal runs for 42 lock free miles through
pleasant pasturelands, overlooked for most of the way by the
foothills of the Pennines, from which hang gliders often soar.
The canal was engineered by John Rennie, and the bridges and
aqueducts are built on his usual massive classical scale.

Lancaster Canal Cruises operate a fleet of narrow boats and
canal barges on the Lancaster Canal from a small village called
Bilsborrow near Garstang.

The Jungle Queen is a family owned and operated canal barge
and has been running cruises up and down the Lancaster
Canal for the past 15 years and they have learnt what makes a
great cruise. Whether its a trip to view the scenery or
to educate, the crew are friendly, helpful and aim to make
it a day to remember.

Friday 29th Mar

A morning departure from Cumbria as we head south to Lytham on the Fylde coast, we have some time at leisure for lunch before our journey to Leyland and the Hallmark Hotel. We have a welcome tea and coffee in the lounge whilst our cases are taken to the rooms. Dinner in the hotel.

D

Saturday 30th Mar

This morning we head into Manchester and the Salford Quays, where we join a tour of the BBC at MediaCityUK and walk in the footsteps of some of our favourite celebrities, home to a whole host of BBC channels and programmes including favourites such as Match of the Day, Blue Peter, A Question of Sport, Mastermind, BBC Breakfast, Radio 5 live, CBBC, BBC Sport and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, to name just a few. Well-informed and friendly tour guides will entertain and surprise us, giving us a fascinating insight into how TV and radio work. We can also have a go at making a news and weather bulletin in an interactive studio. We also have time to explore the Quays with its shops, Imperial War Museum and The Lowry. Dinner in the hotel tonight is a traditional Lancashire Themed dinner.

B, D

Sunday 31st Mar

A morning visit to Barton Grange Garden Centre where we have time for coffee in the restaurant before heading to Bilsborrow and an afternoon cruise on the Lancaster Canal, we will be served fresh, award-winning fish and chips whilst enjoying the sights as we pass along the canal. We return to Leyland for dinner in the hotel.

B, D

Monday 1st Apr

After a leisurely breakfast we begin our journey home, heading to Skipton, where we have time for lunch in this thriving market town before the remainder of the journey north to Cumbria.